Autotelic

Autotelic is defined by Webster's dictionary as "having a purpose in and not apart from itself" Etymology: Greek autotelēs, from aut- + telos, meaning self and goal.

The Oxford English Dictionary cites its earliest use as 1901 (Baldwin, Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology I 96/1), and also cites a 1932 use by T. S. Eliot (Essays I. ii. 24).

Autotelic is used by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, in his book "Finding Flow, The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday life". [Robert E Quinn, Change the World p 210, 272] , where it is used to describe people who are internally driven, and as such may exhibit a sense of purpose or curiosity. This is different from externally driven, where things such as comfort, money, power, or fame form the motivating force.

It has relevance in context of leadership, motivation, and managing change in people. In a world, where people can become ingrained routines that they feel tiring, not fulfilling, and even painful, there is an increasing interest in conscious business, and value based business.

"An autotelic person needs few material possessions and little entertainment, comfort, power, or fame because so much of what he or she does is already rewarding,. Because such persons experience flow in work, in family life, when interacting with people, when eating, even when alone with nothing to do, they are less dependent on the external rewards that keep others motivated to go on with a life composed of dull and meaningless routines. They are more autonomous and independent because they cannot be as easily manipulated with threats or rewards from the outside. At the same time, they are more involved with everything around them because they are fully immersed in the current of life." [Csikszentmihalyi, 1997, p.l17,]

Alexander Technique practitioners tell of experiencing increased autotelic behaviour. They spend time cultivating awareness of the "means-whereby" an activity is performed, rather than focussing on the "end".

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